Help Support Baby Micah and His Family Through His NICU Journey

Baby Micah’s Expected Arrival day is January 7th (via cesarean birth)

Hello my name is Olivia I have known the Gardner’s most of my life. Over the years our families relationship have become

very close. We love the Gardner’s . Jordan & his wife Amber our my pastor and they are preparing for their precious baby boy their 5th child but his arrival will come with enormous medical challenges and a very long hospital stay.

Early in the pregnancy, doctors feared the worst when ultrasounds showed a gestational sac but no heartbeat. After much prayer and uncertainty, Micah surprised everyone when his tiny heart began to beat. We were all overjoyed.

But just weeks later, doctors discovered that Baby Micah has a serious condition called omphalocele — a defect where the abdominal wall does not close properly during development, causing organs to grow outside his abdomen inside a protective sac. This condition is often connected to fatal genetic disorders, and abortion was suggested — but Jordan and Amber made it clear that this was never an option. Micah is their son. His life is a gift. They chose faith and love.

Genetic testing thankfully ruled out trisomies, but Micah’s omphalocele was later classified as giant, meaning more organs are outside his abdomen than inside.

In Micah's case, the Omphalocele is containing his liver, stomach and small intestine.

Doctors are also concerned that his diaphragm may be involved, which could make breathing extremely difficult at birth. He may require ventilation or even artificial lung support.

Micah is expected to spend months — possibly up to 11 months — in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. This will be a long and emotional journey full of procedures, monitoring, and prayer as his body grows strong enough for healing and surgery.

To prepare, Jordan and Amber have moved in with family and plan to stay at the Ronald McDonald House as often as possible so they can remain close to Micah. However, their other four children (ages 13 and under) are not allowed to stay there, so the family will be traveling back and forth on a multi-hour round trip as much as possible so the kids can still have time with their parents.

They are doing this along with the challenge of Pastor Jordan still being there to pastor Fellowship Church and continue to oversee, preach, teach be there for church family, as well as First Lady Amber being over the music department- serving as music director, worship leader over the Praise & worship team and also teaching Sunday school class.

During this season, Jordan’s parents have lovingly opened their home and taken on the heavy load of helping care for the children, which has been an incredible blessing.

When baby Micah is able to go home from the NICU, Jordan and Amber will need to find a home to move back into.

So during this time, they will be saving as much as possible to secure a down payment or first/last month's rent

and security deposit to be able to move their family of 7 back into a home that will be a safe environment for baby Micah and his medical needs.

Why they are in need of Help:

This fundraiser is to help relieve the enormous financial burden this precious family now faces so they can focus fully on baby Micah:

• Travel & fuel for constant multi-hour hospital trips

• Lodging & living expenses near the hospital

• Medical-related costs & bills not fully covered

• A specialized Jefferson car seat required for a child with an omphalocele — costing up to $1,800

• Wound-care supplies and treatment after Micah leaves the hospital, including any other specialized equipment to get him home safely.

• Ongoing follow-up appointments, surgery and therapies.

• Unexpected medical and care-related costs

• Loss of income during extended NICU care

• Essential supplies for Micah’s recovery

Our Goal: $50,000

This amount will help support the family through the first phase of Micah’s journey. Any amount — large or small, makes a real difference.

How You Can Support Baby Micah:

• Pray for healing, strength, and peace

• Pray for wisdom for his medical team

• Share this fundraiser so others can help

• Donate if you are able

Most of all — stand with this family in love.

Micah has already overcome so much. We believe his life has purpose. We believe God is holding him. And we are trusting Him every step of the way.

On behalf of Jordan and Amber — thank you so much for your kindness, your generosity, and your prayers. Your support truly means the world to them!